Updated November 2026

Mastering Docker and Kubernetes

Class Duration

35 hours of live training delivered over 5 days.

Student Prerequisites

Familiarity with basic Linux commands
No prior Docker or Kubernetes experience required

Target Audience

Developers and administrators who want to deploy applications with Docker and Kubernetes. The managed Kubernetes module runs on Amazon EKS or Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), chosen to match the client's platform. Teams that want a shorter path can take Docker for Programmers and Kubernetes Essentials for Programmers separately.

Description

This course introduces developers and administrators to Docker and Kubernetes for deploying applications on-premises and in the cloud. It starts with Docker architecture, images, storage, networking, and multi-container applications with Docker Compose. Students then create Kubernetes deployments, configuration, storage, and services. Traffic management uses the Gateway API, since the community ingress-nginx controller is retired. After Helm, the course ends with a managed Kubernetes module on Amazon EKS or Azure AKS.

Learning Outcomes

Explain Docker and Kubernetes architecture and install the tools for each.
Build, run, and manage images and containers with the Docker CLI.
Run multi-container applications with Docker Compose.
Convert Compose applications to Kubernetes.
Create Kubernetes resources with commands and YAML files.
Scale, update, and roll back Deployments.
Configure applications with ConfigMaps and Secrets.
Persist data with Persistent Volumes and StorageClasses.
Expose applications with Services and the Gateway API.
Install and manage applications with Helm.
Store images in Amazon ECR or Azure Container Registry.
Deploy, secure, and scale applications on Amazon EKS or Azure AKS.

Training Materials

Comprehensive courseware is distributed online at the start of class. All students receive a downloadable MP4 recording of the training.

Software Requirements

Modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
For the EKS module: an AWS account with permission to create resources (ECR, EKS, IAM roles) and the AWS CLI v2
For the AKS module: an Azure subscription with permission to create resources (ACR, AKS, managed identities) and the Azure CLI
SSH client for connecting to an Ubuntu virtual machine
Visual Studio Code with the Container Tools extension
Docker Engine, kubectl, Minikube, and Helm (installation is covered in class)

Training Topics

Introduction to Docker

What is Docker?
Containers and their benefits
Docker architecture
- The docker CLI client
- Daemon and client-daemon communication
- Images, registries, and the Docker Engine
Installation
- Creating and connecting to an Ubuntu virtual machine
- Testing and updating the installation
- Configuring Visual Studio Code for Docker

Containers and Images

Container operations
- Listing containers
- Start, stop, pause, and unpause
- Removing containers
Images
- Docker Hub
- Dockerfiles
- Multi-stage builds and minimal base images
- Creating, tagging, and running images
- Removing images

Docker Storage and Networking

Volume mounts
Bind mounts
tmpfs mounts
Default and user-defined bridge networks
Host networks

Multi-Container Applications with Docker Compose

What is Docker Compose?
The Compose file and the Compose Specification
- Defining services, networks, and volumes
- Merging multiple Compose files
Creating, starting, and stopping services
Listing and removing services
Converting Compose apps with Compose Bridge
Converting Compose apps with Kompose

Introduction to Kubernetes

What is Kubernetes?
Clusters, nodes, and Pods
The control plane
Tools, installation, and basic commands
- Minikube
- kubectl
- Headlamp
Creating a simple "Hello World" deployment

Kubernetes Deployments

Architecture details
- Pods and nodes
- Objects and resources
- Workloads and ReplicaSets
Deployments
- Creating from the command line
- Creating from a YAML file
- Updating and rolling back
- Scaling
- Pausing and resuming

Configuration and Storage

ConfigMaps and Secrets
Environment variables and mounted configuration
Persistent Volumes and Persistent Volume Claims
StorageClasses and dynamic provisioning

Kubernetes Networking: Services

The Kubernetes networking model
Selectors, labels, and endpoints
ClusterIP and NodePort Services
LoadBalancer and ExternalName Services
Creating services from the CLI and from YAML
Exposing services inside and outside the cluster
Local port forwarding

Kubernetes Networking: Gateway API

Gateway API vs. NodePort and LoadBalancer Services
GatewayClass, Gateway, and HTTPRoute
Installing a Gateway API implementation
Path-based fanout
Host-based routing
TLS termination and HTTP-to-HTTPS redirects
Weighted traffic splitting for canary releases
Ingress as a frozen API
The retired ingress-nginx controller
Migrating from Ingress

Helm

What is Helm?
Installation and architecture
Charts
- Searching Artifact Hub and chart repositories
- Adding and installing charts
- Setting default values
Creating and upgrading releases
Rolling back and uninstalling releases

Managed Kubernetes on Amazon EKS (AWS option)

Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR)
- Private and public repositories
- Authenticating with the AWS CLI and IAM
- Pushing, pulling, and viewing images
Creating an EKS cluster
Managed node groups
EKS Auto Mode
Workload identity with EKS Pod Identity
AWS Load Balancer Controller with Gateway API
Running and scaling applications on EKS
Updating applications on EKS
Where Amazon ECS and AWS Fargate fit

Managed Kubernetes on Azure AKS (Azure option)

Azure Container Registry (ACR)
- Creating a registry and logging in
- Pushing and viewing images
- Attaching ACR to AKS
Creating an AKS cluster
Node pools and networking options
Workload identity with Microsoft Entra Workload ID
Application routing add-on with Gateway API
Application Gateway for Containers
Running and scaling applications on AKS
Updating applications on AKS
Where Azure Container Apps and Azure Container Instances fit